FOUR Peel Thunder youngsters have nominated for this Thursday's National AFL Draft.
While the spotlight has mainly focussed on Anthony Morabito, Peel teammates Aaron Black, Ben Howlett and Chris Luff are also strong possibilities to be selected by an AFL club.
The biggest prospect is Eaton teenager Black.
The 18-year-old is tipped to be picked up inside the top 20 - pretty impressive considering this season was his first year playing at WA Football League level.
While he started playing football at age seven, Black has only been at Peel for one year.
Beforehand he was running around with the Eaton Boomers in the South West Football League.
After impressing with the Peel colts the tall key position player made his senior debut in round 20 and went on to play the remaining three games of the season with the league team.
His performances caught the eye of AFL scouts and along with Morabito he was invited to attend the national AFL draft camp.
While there the 192cm and 82kg Black placed equal second in the new kicking test and he came equal fourth in the standing vertical leap test.
Every AFL club has approached Black and although his name has been thrown around as a possible high draft pick he said he is not feeling any pressure.
“I just hope I’ve done all the right things and shown clubs I am what they need,” he said.
Since the draft camp Black said working for his parents’ busy floor covering business has kept his mind off football.
He has no club of preference and said not knowing where he was going was exciting.
“Wherever I go I’m ready for it.”
Black will be watching the draft with friends and family at home in Eaton.
Howlett will also be watching the count with relatives and mates in further south in Donnybrook.
After three league seasons and 62 senior games, he is hoping to emulate Hayden Ballantyne’s success story.
Last year Ballantyne, aged 21, won the Peel Thunder best and fairest and then went on to be picked up in the draft by Fremantle.
Howlett, 21, won this year’s Dudley Tuckey Medal and after a stellar season is also hoping to join an AFL club.
The nuggetty midfielder said three clubs had contacted him since the end of last season, including West Coast.
But he is not entirely convinced he’s going to be drafted.
“I haven’t had too much contact with AFL clubs… there’s no pressure, I’ll just see what happens,” he said.
“I think (winning the best and fairest medal) helped; I’ve definitely improved.
“Taking that next step into AFL has always been the dream and I don’t mind what club I go to if I get picked.”
If his name is not called out today Howlett said he would continue to play at Peel Thunder.
Along with Howlett, Luff said he would remain loyal to Peel if he was not selected in today’s draft and stick with the Mandurah-based WAFL club.
Luff received letters from five AFL clubs and he has spoken to North Melbourne but has not had any further contact since he left for an end of season trip to Bali nearly month ago.
The 198cm-tall Luff was the only Peel player to attend the state AFL draft screening earlier in the month.
He is not confident he will be selected.
“I’m not expecting anything, I’m taking it as it comes and if it happens then it’s a bonus,” the 18-year-old said.
“I have no preference; I’ll go to any club.”
The mobile defender made his senior WA Football League debut last season and added a further three games to his tally this year.
And if today is not his day Luff said it would not be the end to his AFL dream.
“In the next couple of years there will be an extra two clubs so that means a further 100 kids could get drafted so that will definitely help my chances.”
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